Guide to Financial Aid in Montana

Don’t let the cost of education hold you back. The Montana University System offers several types of financial aid, each of which can lower the cost of your program, degree, or certificate. Learn how you can use financial aid to turn your college dreams into reality.

Higher education has the power to change lives, and we believe that this power should be accessible to everyone, regardless of financial situation. MUS is committed to helping students make their educational experience both life-changing and affordable. Find out more about financial aid opportunities at MUS.

$158.2M

of financial aid awarded to students

$6,012

average award for financial aid recipients

82%

of first-time full-time students receive financial aid

We encourage every student to apply for financial aid, no matter your background. Although the process may feel overwhelming at first, starting early and staying organized will help make it manageable. Follow our guide for getting started with financial aid, and find out how you can earn hundreds — even thousands — of dollars towards your education.

1. Learn About the Types of Financial Aid

Financial aid isn’t just one-size-fits-all. There are several different forms of financial aid, each with different application processes, eligibility requirements, and responsibilities that come with them. Learn the difference between aid types such as grants, loans, scholarships, work study, and tuition waivers so you can find an aid option that works for you.

2. Calculate Your Potential Aid Package

Your potential financial aid package can seriously lower the cost of a college education. The financial aid forecasting tool allows you to use information about your and your family’s finances to estimate how much aid you can expect to receive. Calculating your potential aid will be useful for helping you determine how much money you need to save for college.

3. Start Applying for Financial Aid Today

Financing your education can be stressful, but you don’t have to do it alone. Learn about the process of applying for financial aid and get the ball rolling — familiarize yourself with the steps to apply for financial aid and make note of important deadlines for your application.

Know Before You Begin

Get an overview of the entire financial aid process, including how to apply, accept your aid, and how to renew and maintain your student aid once it's awarded.

Process Overview

Here to Help

We understand that finding out how to pay for college can be stressful and confusing. If you have questions or need help, please do not hesitate to reach out. Find out how you can get in touch with the financial aid office at your MUS campus.

I want to assure you that the financial aid offices are open and available to you, whether that be email, phone — a lot of us are doing Zoom meetings as well as Teams meetings so we can share our screens with you and vice versa. We're going to be here with you every step of the way with your financial aid.

Valerie Curtin

Director of Financial Aid at Helena College

Contact Campus Financial Aid Offices

Additional Resources